Children International US donates books to Malawi schools

Children International US has partnered with the Malawi National Library Services (NLS) in a massive project that will see the two institutions equip schools across the country with assorted books.

The programme was launched with distribution of thousands of books to schools in Northern Malawi at a function which was held in Mzuzu.

The Children International US has given the books to the National Library Services to distribute on their behalf in all schools across Malawi under a programme called Decentralize Approach.

Msiska (left) receiving a symbolic book from Nyali.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, National Librarian (director) at the National Library Services, Grey Nyali, said the project’s target was to ensure that the books reach all schools in Malawi.

Nyali, who was the guest of honor, said under the programme each district council would be allocated with a container full of various books to be distributed in both public and private schools within their vicinity.

He stated that the books were a donation from the American people who pity with the availability of books in the country’s schools.

“We intend to reach every school in Malawi… those who donate are not rich people but they just feel sorry for us,” said Chinyali.

In his remarks, Northern Region Education Division Manager, Paupers Msiska, observed that the books would enhance reading culture among the students in the region as many of them were lucking such text books.

Msiska then urged all school librarians in the region to take care of the books which he said was the first time for the division to receive books of such quantity for free.

“You need to be strong, otherwise if you are weak all these books will be lost or destroyed within a short period,” Msiska advised the librarians.

He added: “Our children today fail to speak good English because they don’t read books.”

He encouraged the teachers and students present at the function to do their best to promote the reading culture in their schools.

About 25 schools drawn from the region were present to witness the launch of the distribution and each school received 125 text books of different subjects.

National Library has 16 branches across Malawi including two newly introduced in Balaka and Salima districts.